The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-08-13
How We Got Ned To Sign.

house this morning. Papa looked so
sOrry, and mamma was sick, and Cousin
Clare's eyes were all pink with crying.
May and I didn't know what 1t oil
meant, only We guessed that brother Ned
had been doing something very, very
naughty; for he didn't come to breakfast
till We were almost through, and then
papa was 50 angry Mt him, though he
didn't say much.
Ned had Just drank a cup OF coffee for
his breakfast, and rs soon as he could get
away he was off for ride.
After while Cousin Clara told us to
put on our things and We would take .
walk together. She wasn't bit like her.
self that day, for she walked along SO
quiet and solemn, and only said ''yes"
and mo" to what May and I said. Pref
ty soon Ned rode up behind us, and he
got off his horse and walked along beside
Cousin Clare.
May didn't pay much 'teption; she's q
little thing-only six and half; I'm
eight, and listened to what they we're
saying, and, l tell you, twas terrible! /
heard Ned say:
81 want to know just how it was; 1
want to get at the bottom of this thing
She Just bit her lips as if she was try
ing to keep from crying, but she kept
still till he said:
"Let me feel that know the worst. "
Then she spoke up very firm, though
her voice trembled:
AUNT and l were sitting up when
we heard a noise of stumbling and shut
fling, and then the bell rang. When the
door was opened, you were held up by
| two or three men, all of them tipsy; and
when you got inside you fell down"
"Say it out" said Ned, much excited.
81 was dead drunk, or beastly drunk
whatever you call it,"
Clare kept still, though the big tears
kept dropping to the ground.
Observation-Disclosures
as if every word hurt him.
'She thought at first you were hurt or
sick, but when she found it Was-worse,
she clasped her hands and looked as il
she wanted to die"
"Well," he said, 81 hadn't any idea
that was taking more than usual, but
suppose did, and made fool of my
self"
That's Just what he said, truly. My
but did feel badly. l told May when
We got home, and we Just cried and
cried. Then We went to Cousin Glare,
and had long chat with her about it
She told us that the wrong was in taking
it at all. May and I were surprised at
that, for didn't papa have his glass Of
sherry every day after dinners But
Clare said that if no one ever tasted, NO
one would ever be a drunkard.
We both said we'd never, never touch
it, apd she wrote ont a pledge, and We
both put our names down and SO did
che. 1 like Cousin Glare; I'm going to
lie young lady just like her when
grow up.
All at once May looked at me and ]
looked at her. We both thought the
same thing.
Why couldn't we try to get papa and
Ned to put their names down, too
We took the paper to mammals nom,
and she kissed us and said We might
try. But before we went, she had us
kneel down with her, and she prayed
that God would save her boy and help
us to do right.
1 tell you we felt solemn, We almost
wanted to give up-that is, I did, but
May said she was going to so anyhow,
and felt ashamed to have little thing
like that beat me; SD We waited till after
dinner, and went to the dining room
when every one was gone and papa was
alone with his bottle and glass Of sherry.
He looked astOnished when we walked
in and laid the paper and pen and ink
before him, and then We thought he was
angry, and lie looked so for minute.
wanted to run, but 1 said:
cts to save brother Ned, papa"
Then lie put his head down ON the